2018 - 04 Kitchen Table

Master Distiller Notes

This batch is made from barrels produced on three different production dates and stored in six different locations. The breakdown is as follows:

7% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse E
14% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse E
4% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse E
24% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse J
44% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse J
7% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse D

This batch has a beautiful color that is a deep chestnut and has a robust and flavor rich taste profile. The nose is a rich balance of vanilla and oak that comes from aging in the white oak barrels for over six years. The finish is balanced and pleasant and does not overpower your taste buds. In Dad’s honor, I’ve enjoyed this batch with a healthy splash of water, also called a “Kentucky Tea,” which was one of his signature ways of his enjoying his Booker’s®.

~ Fred Noe, Beam Family’s 7th Generation Master Distiller®

Label Inspiration

The fourth and final batch of Booker’s® Bourbon for 2018 is called “Kitchen Table,” named after one of my dad’s favorite places. There, Dad liked to read the newspaper, tinker with his projects, and notably, it’s where he gathered our family and friends to help him select batches of his namesake whiskey. It’s special for me to name this batch after a place that was so important to Dad and the creation of Booker’s® as we know it today.

2018 - 03 Kentucky Chew

Master Distiller Notes

This batch is made up of barrels stored in six locations within three different warehouses. The breakdown of the barrel locations is as follows:

29% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse D
42% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse D
8% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse I
8% came from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse I
6% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse J
2% came from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse J
5% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse N

This batch being named “Kentucky Chew™” is appropriate as it has the flavors my father would have chewed on for a good while, smiled and said, “We done good on this batch.” The nose is sweet with some hints of dried fruit, along with the vanilla that is characteristic of Booker’s® Bourbon. As the bourbon aerates, some of the vanilla comes to the front inviting you to taste the bourbon in your glass. The taste is unmistakably Booker’s® Bourbon with a robust profile that is intense at first, but finishes sweet and medium-bodied.

~ Fred Noe, Beam Family’s 7th Generation Master Distiller®

Label Inspiration

I’m happy to release the third batch in the Booker’s® Bourbon 2018 collection, called Booker’s® Batch 2018-03, ‘Kentucky Chew™.’ It’s named in tribute to my dad’s signature way of tasting bourbon that we still use today.

Many years ago, a whiskey writer coined Dad’s special technique the ‘Kentucky Chew™’ after sitting down with him for a tasting. To get a good ‘Kentucky Chew™,’ Dad would take a sip of bourbon, work it around his mouth and then smack his lips a few times like he was chewing on the whiskey. He liked the way the bourbon coated the different areas of his mouth and how, by drawing in air, he could assess the flavor and finish of the bourbon. We still teach Dad’s ‘Kentucky Chew™’ method any time we’re hosting whiskey tastings at the distillery or in our travels. I use it myself when I’m tasting bourbon – especially Booker’s® – to discover the full range of flavors it has to offer and to ensure it’s up to Dad’s standards for his namesake bourbon.

If Dad were here today, I know he’d give this batch his good ‘ole ‘Kentucky Chew™’ and enjoy every moment of it. I hope you’ll join me in toasting him and all of his traditions that we carry on today.

2018 - 02 Backyard BBQ

Master Distiller Notes

This batch is made up of barrels stored in six locations within three different warehouses. The breakdown of the barrel locations is as follows:

4% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse E
29% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse E
10% came from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse E
8% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse J
32% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse I
17% came from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse I

I selected Booker’s® “Backyard BBQ” on a cold spring day in Kentucky as I was thinking about how much I am looking forward to the cookouts that I’ll host for friends and family once the warmer weather arrives. The color of this batch is a rich chestnut that reminds me of the beautiful thoroughbred horses that run at the horse tracks in the spring in Kentucky. The nose boasts sweet hints of maple and vanilla, and the taste is rich with a long, warm finish. Enjoy this batch with friends and family at your own backyard BBQ this summer, whether that be sipped neat or with water to open up the flavors.

~ Fred Noe, Beam Family’s 7th Generation Master Distiller

Label Inspiration

I’m excited to share the second release in the Booker’s® Bourbon 2018 collection – Booker’s® Batch 2018-02, ‘Backyard BBQ.’ It’s named in tribute to my dad, Booker Noe, and his love for hosting good, old-fashioned cookouts in our backyard. That man sure knew how to throw a party – complete with delicious food, lively music and great bourbon, of course.

Dad especially loved hosting his famous ‘Bourbon-ques’ throughout the Kentucky summer, inviting friends, family, neighbors, employees from the distillery and anybody visiting to join us at our house in Bardstown, KY. Of course, Dad didn’t do anything small, so his barbecues always included his famous pork chops, flambeed with Booker’s® Bourbon. They were a real crowd-pleaser and became his signature dish. My son, Freddie, and I still host ‘Bourbon-ques’ at the house each summer, including flambeed pork chops for everyone to enjoy.

Booker’s® “Backyard BBQ” is a fine bourbon to enjoy during the warm summer months, paired best with good food and great company. Here’s to Dad’s long-standing traditions and, as always, to damn good bourbon. Hope you enjoy this one as much as I do.”

2018 - 01 Kathleen’s Batch

Master Distiller Notes

Booker’s “Kathleen’s Batch” was selected by myself, Kathleen and the Booker’s Bourbon Roundtable. The batch is made up of barrels from five production dates aged in several different locations within three warehouses. The breakdown of the barrel locations is as follows:

4% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse ONE
6% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse F
3% came from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse F
19% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse H
30% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse H
13% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse H
25% came from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse H

Kathleen’s description of the nose is that it presents notes of leather and floral honey. I note some caramel and vanilla as I always do in Booker’s. I know my Dad always strived for those aromas in the nose of each batch of his namesake bourbon, too. Together, we taste rich butterscotch, brown sugar, dried cherries and a little allspice. The finish is a nice balance of toasted oak with caramel and brown sugar. As one of our Booker’s Roundtable members put it best, this batch is just like Kathleen herself – “strong, sweet, rich and delightful.”

Label Inspiration

I’m proud to share the first release of our 2018 Booker’s® Bourbon batch collection, called Booker’s® Batch 2018-01, “Kathleen’s Batch.” This batch is named in honor of my good friend Kathleen DiBenedetto, who played an essential role in launching the Small Batch Bourbon Collection® with my dad, Booker Noe, in the early 90s. She was the first brand manager of Knob Creek®, Basil Hayden’s®, Baker’s® and Booker’s, and together with Dad, she helped pave the way for the premium bourbon category we all know and love today.

From the start, Dad put Kathleen to work at the distillery, assigning her to nearly every job until she knew the ins and outs of how bourbon is made, the Beam way. Each evening, Dad and Kathleen would sit at our kitchen table, and he would quiz her on all she had learned that day – believe me when I say he wasn’t easy on her, either! In September 2015, Kathleen’s contributions to the bourbon industry were recognized when she was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, and she sure deserved it.

After more than 25 years with the Beam business, our family thinks of Kathleen as the daughter Dad never had. I know he’d be proud to honor her with a batch of his namesake Booker’s Bourbon. It’s a small token of “thanks” for the heart and hard work she’s put into our brands all these years. I hope you’ll join me in enjoying a glass of Booker’s “Kathleen’s Batch” in her honor.

2017 - 04 Sip Awhile

Master Distiller Notes

The batch is made up of barrels from four different production dates stored in five different locations within three storage warehouses. The breakdown of the barrel locations is as follows:

4% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse F
4% came from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse F
8% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse E
39% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse E
45% came from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse H

The color of this batch has a rich chestnut tone, and the nose offers a sweet aroma of vanilla with some caramel. I really enjoyed selecting this batch as the weather dropped and the seasons changed from summer to fall here in Kentucky, making it the perfect time to sip some bourbon. Enjoy the final Booker’s batch of the year neat or with a splash of water to open up the flavors and the depth that comes from this wonderful cask-strength bourbon.

Label Inspiration

I’m proud to release the fourth and final batch in the Booker’s® Bourbon 2017 Collection – Booker’s Batch 2017-04, also called Booker’s® “Sip Awhile.” It’s named in celebration of Dad’s keenness to take life day-by-day and appreciate all the moments in between.

My dad, Booker Noe, was larger-than-life, and he enjoyed each minute to the fullest. One thing that Dad loved most in life was spending time with people, whether that was family, friends or even strangers – Dad was always making new friends! He’d invite those friends – new and old – over to our house just to have a good time, relax and come “sip awhile” on some of his namesake Booker’s Bourbon, or even to join our family in celebrating the holidays. There are a lot of lessons that Dad taught me that I carry with me today, and stepping back and enjoying the moment with the ones you love is a lesson I’ll never forget. It’s one I hope to pass on to my son, Freddie, too.

This holiday season – and just in time for Dad’s birthday in December – I hope you’ll join me in raising a glass of Booker’s “Sip Awhile” in tribute to Dad, his legacy and the spirit of enjoying moments both big and small … and of course, the flavors of good bourbon.

2017 - 03 Front Porch Batch

Master Distiller Notes

This batch consisted of seven different production dates stored in six different locations within three storage warehouses. The breakdown of the barrel locations is as follows:

8% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse D
14% came from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse D
37% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse E
5% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse E
16% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse E
20% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse F

Finish | Well-balanced, with a shorter finish than normal for Booker’s®

Sipping Suggestions | This batch is perfect to sip on while sitting on your front porch on a warm summer day, just like Dad used to do.

-- Fred Noe, Beam Family's 7th Generation Master Distiller

Label Inspiration

I’m proud to release the third batch in the Booker’s® Bourbon 2017 Collection – Booker’s Batch 2017-03, also called “Front Porch Batch.” This batch is named in tribute to my dad, Booker Noe, and his appreciation for the simple things in life, like enjoying a glass of bourbon on our front porch after a long day spent at the distillery

To Dad, our front porch held a lot of memories from his childhood. As a boy, he would spend summer evenings on the front porch swing with his Maw Maw, where they would enjoy the warm Kentucky breeze and talk about their days. Friends or other family members might stop by to say hi and sit with them for a while – a lot of people met Dad on that porch throughout his life.

Sitting on the front porch with Dad are some of my favorite memories too, and that same porch swing stills hangs there today. I know if Dad were still with us, that’s where you’d find him spending his afternoons – with a glass of his namesake Booker’s Bourbon in hand, of course.

Booker’s “Front Porch Batch” is perfect to sip on a warm summer day, just watching the world pass by. I hope you’ll join me in enjoying it.

2017 - 02 Blue Knights Batch

Master Distiller Notes

This batch consisted of barrels from four different production dates aged in several different locations within four warehouses.The breakdown of the barrel locations is as follows:

2% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse ONE
38% came from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse D
33% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse F
27% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse J

Nose | Sweet with vanilla notes, mixed with some wood from the white oak barrels the bourbon aged in (for up to ten years in the case of some barrels!), and opening up with a little time

Finish | A great mingling of different tastes, making it a well- balanced batch

Sipping Suggestions | I really enjoyed putting this batch together and sampling it on a beautiful spring day here in Kentucky. I know the fans of Booker’s Bourbon will really enjoy this batch, and look forward to hearing their thoughts.

-- Fred Noe, Beam Family's 7th Generation Master Distiller

Label Inspiration

I’m proud to announce the second release in the Booker’s® Bourbon 2017 Collection – Booker’s Batch 2017-02, also called “Blue Knights Batch.” This batch is named in tribute to one of my dad’s lesser-known group of friends, the Blue Knights® Motorcycle Club, an international brotherhood of active and retired law enforcement officers who share a passion for motorcycle riding and cruise together across the country.

Many years ago, my dad, Booker Noe, was invited to attend aBlue Knights’ rally in Kentucky. He eagerly accepted because, as he put it, you could never have too many police officer friends.Dad made fast friends with the Blue Knights, and before you know it, he’d invited all 300 of them over to our house the next day for a BBQ lunch. You can imagine Mom’s face when he told her at breakfast the next day. But, that was Dad – larger-thanlife and always making new friends.

We must have gone to every grocery store in town to host lunch for a crowd that size, but we did it, and it became an annual event each Memorial Day weekend. The Blue Knights even went on to name Dad an honorary member of their club.

I know Dad would be proud to honor the Blue Knights with their very own batch of his namesake bourbon as a tribute to the many years of friendship they shared. I hope you’ll join me in raising a glass of Booker’s “Blue Knights” and toasting to brotherhood and great bourbon.

2017 - 01 Tommy’s Batch

Master Distiller Notes

I selected this batch with the help of Tommy himself, the Booker’s Roundtable and a select group of whiskey experts and writers. The batch consisted of two production dates aged in three different warehouses. The breakdown of the barrel locations is as follows:

41% came from the 6th floor of the 9 story warehouse E
13% came from the 6th floor of the 9 story warehouse H
46% came from the 7th floor of the 9 story warehouse D

Label Inspiration

“I'm proud to share the first of four batches in the Booker's® Bourbon 2017 Batch Collection, Batch 2017-01, also called Booker's "Tommy's Batch." I’m especially pleased to release this special batch as our first, as it is named in tribute to Tommy Crume, who started his career at the distillery as a young man and worked closely alongside Dad for decades. They spent so much time together that we used to joke that he was like a second son to Dad!

Over all those years, Tommy learned just how Dad liked things to be done around the distillery, especially when it came to his namesake bourbon and eventually worked his way up to Distillery Manager at the Clermont, Ky. plant, helping to make sure that everything continued to run just the way Dad would have wanted.

After almost 30 years with us, Tommy retired in 2016 and I know Dad would be honored to name the first batch of 2017 after his dear friend. I hope you'll join me in raising a glass of Booker's "Tommy's Batch" in celebration of Dad’s legacy and Tommy’s, too.”

2016 - 06 Noe Hard Times

Master Distiller Notes

Booker’s ® Bourbon Batch 2016-06, also called Booker’s “Noe Hard Times” is made up of barrels from 6 different rack houses with six different production dates. It is bottled at 127.8 proof and was aged for 6 years, 10 months, and 1 day. This batch has a nice aroma of vanilla and oak with hints of toasted nuts. The flavor is very well balanced and has a nice mouth feel with a smooth long finish perfect for sipping neat over the holidays.

Label Inspiration

I'm proud to share the sixth and final release in the Booker's Bourbon 2016 Batch Collection, Booker’s Batch 2016-06, also called "Noe Hard Times." This batch name pays homage to the nickname my dad, Booker Noe, earned playing football in Bardstown, KY years ago.

Dad was larger-than-life in personality and stature, and possessed both from an early age. Needless to say, no team in central Kentucky wanted to line up against such a formidable opponent. This, combined with a birthday in December 1929, just on the cusp of the Great Depression, earned him the nickname "Hard Times" on and off the field.

Uncut and unfiltered* – like all Booker’s® Bourbon batches before it – “Noe Hard Times” features the robust flavor and natural proof that Booker’s Bourbon is known for and will be available beginning early December, just in time for what would have been Dad's 87th birthday. If Dad were here today, I know he would enjoy a glass of this batch while telling his favorite stories from his days on the gridiron.

2016 - 05 Off Your Rocker

Master Distiller Notes

Booker’s® Bourbon Batch 2016-05, also called Booker’s “Off Your Rocker,” is made up of barrels located in four different rack houses with four different production dates. It is bottled at 129.7 proof and was aged for 6 years, 7 months and 23 days. I selected this batch for its sweet aroma and flavors of vanilla and wood from the white oak barrels that this batch was aged in. The liquid is well balanced with a big, warm finish that lingers for a good while, especially when sipped neat. I know my Dad, Booker Noe, would enjoy sipping this batch on chilly fall evenings or at a tailgate.

Label Inspiration

“I’m proud to announce the fifth release in the Booker’s Bourbon 2016 Batch Collection, Batch 2016-05, also called “Off Your Rocker.” Dad was a big man – over six feet tall – and he always said that he was most comfortable in a rocking chair, whether he was taking a break at the distillery or home relaxing on our front porch. It was his go-to seat, and everyone knew it. In fact, if you come visit us at the distillery today, you’ll see a statue of Dad in his rocking chair overlooking the rack houses with his beloved dog, Dot, by his side.

“Off Your Rocker” is also a tribute to Dad’s larger-than-life personality that he was so well known for. He always said exactly what was on his mind – cracking jokes and surprising people – and I remember our friends and family telling him he was “off his rocker” every now and again.

Like all batches of Booker's, I personally selected this batch to ensure it upholds the qualities and standards that Dad’s namesake whiskey is known for -- uncut at its natural proof and full of robust flavors of vanilla. I know that if Dad were here today, he’d enjoy a glass of this batch from his rocking chair on the porch, taking in the changing color of the leaves as the cool fall weather starts to set in.”
— Fred Noe, Beam Family’s 7th Generation Master Distiller

2016 - 04 Bluegill Creek

Master Distiller Notes

Booker’s “Bluegill Creek” batch is made up of barrels from four different rack houses and five different production dates. It is bottled at 128 proof and was aged for 6 years, 5 months and 28 days. It was unseasonably warm even by Kentucky standards on the day that I selected the barrels for this batch, and it brought me back to the hot summers that my Dad, Booker Noe, and I spent together fishing for bluegill. When selecting this batch, I wanted something that could be enjoyed in the summer heat while staying true to Booker’s Bourbon standards, and I think Dad would be proud of how “Bluegill Creek” turned out.

This batch would make a great Kentucky Tea, which was one of Dad’s favorite ways to enjoy his Booker’s and includes a healthy splash of water in the glass, which really opens up the flavors and aromas of the liquid. “Bluegill Creek” contains the robust flavors of vanilla that Dad always looked for when selecting batches of Booker’s, and I know he would be proud to have a batch of his bourbon named after one of his favorite pastimes.

-- Fred Noe, Beam Family’s 7th Generation Master Distiller

Label Inspiration

“I’m pleased to share the fourth release in the Booker’s Bourbon 2016 Batch Collection, Batch 2016-04, also called “Bluegill Creek.” This batch honors my dad, Booker Noe, and one of his favorite pastimes – fishing for bluegill. When I was selecting this batch, the hot and humid Kentucky summer weather reminded me of the days Dad and I spent together on the water. We used to go down to the creek and sit for hours, hoping to reel in some bluegill to fry up for dinner. When my son Freddie was a boy, Dad took him fishing too, and I know it’s a tradition that will continue to live on. I guess you could say fishing for bluegill runs in our family, so it seemed like a natural fit to name a batch in honor of one of Dad’s favorite pastimes.

I know Dad would enjoy “Bluegill Creek” for its signature flavors of robust vanilla true to every Booker’s batch. If he were here today, he’d sit down by the water with a glass of this bourbon in one hand and a fishing pole in the other.

BATCH INFO

2016 - 03 Toogie's Invitation

Master Distiller Notes

Toogie’s Invitation is culled from barrels located in six different rack houses. The golden amber liquid offers robust flavors with a complex nose that has an aroma of vanilla on the front.

Label Inspiration

"Batch 2016-03, ‘Toogie’s Invitation,’ is named in honor of Marilyn “Toogie” Dick and her longstanding friendship with my parents, Booker and Annis Noe. With a bond that goes back to their high school days, Toogie has been part of the family since before I can remember and, when Dad first introduced Booker’s Bourbon, Toogie had a standing invitation to gather at our kitchen table, along with friends and family, and select batches of Dad’s namesake bourbon. Later in life, Toogie joined Dad and Mom all over the world during their travels, and she could always be found making Dad’s favorite meal, her famous fried chicken, for him and any guests that he invited to dinner after a long day at the distillery. Toogie herself, along with the Booker’s Bourbon Roundtable, helped me to select this batch at her restaurant in Bardstown, Ky. I know Dad would be proud to have this batch of his bourbon named after his dear friend, Toogie.”
— Fred Noe, Beam Family’s 7th Generation Master Distiller

2016 - LE Limited Edition Booker’s® Rye “Big Time” Batch

Master Distiller Notes

Made from some of the last barrels Booker Noe ever laid down, Booker’s Rye is the first rye whiskey from the brand. Like all batches of Booker’s, it was selected by Fred Noe to ensure it upholds the qualities and standards that Booker Noe envisioned for this very special release, and it was selected with the following characteristics: Booker’s Rye is culled from barrels aged in one of Booker Noe’s favorite rack house. Booker’s Rye has an intense flavor profile with pronounced, well-balanced notes of wood and oak from the longer aging process. The deep amber liquid offers a complex aroma with spicy notes from the rye in the mash bill. This uncut rye has a big bold flavor, but is not overpowering. It can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks.

Label Inspiration

“My dad, Booker Noe, always said “if you ain’t thinking big, you ain’t thinking.” He put this big thinking to use in all kinds of ways, but above all, when it came to flavor. He would spend days experimenting at the distillery, tinkering with the distilling process and different grain mixtures. In particular, Dad saw the difficult, temperamental rye grain as a challenge – small, but tricky to work with – and he never backed down from a challenge. So, in 2003, he went big and laid down barrels of a rye whiskey in his favorite rack house – creating the first ever Booker’s Rye Whiskey. When you take one sip of Booker’s Rye, you’ll agree that it is Big Time all the way – the first of its kind, uncut, unfiltered, and big in flavor, just how Dad liked it. Barreled as a small batch late in Dad’s life, Booker’s Big Time Rye is a rare, limited-edition rye whiskey that won’t come around again any time soon. With an intense flavor profile and pronounced, well-balanced notes of wood and oak, it’s more than worthy of being called “Booker’s,” and I’m proud to release it in his honor this May.” --Fred Noe, Beam Family’s 7th Generation Master Distiller

2016 - 02 Annis' Answer

Master Distiller Notes

“The batch is made up of barrels from four different production dates stored in 5 different storage areas. The oldest barrels in the batch were 7 years, 1 month old and the youngest barrels were 6 years, 2 month old. This batch has an aroma that opens up well after a short period of time in the glass. The vanilla comes through with a lot of other sweet notes as most batches of Bookers. The mouth feel is good with a little more heat that lingers on the back of your throat which I appreciated on the cool morning I sampled the batch. With a small amount of water added, this batch opens up nice. If Booker were still alive I know he would say “I done good” on this batch.”
Fred Noe

Label Inspiration

“The second batch in the Booker’s Bourbon 2016 Batch Collection, “Annis’ Answer,” is named in honor of the day my husband, Booker Noe, asked me to be his wife. Booker and I first met when I was working as a dental hygienist, and he was one of my patients. While I didn’t think much of it at first, friends reintroduced us a few years later and the rest is history. We started a journey that would lead to a very special day - April 7th, 1956 - the day we were married. This is such a special moment for me as I remember Booker’s larger-than-life personality and our wonderful time together on what would have been our 60th wedding anniversary. I’m pleased to honor Booker’s legacy with the release of this batch. While I don’t drink too much bourbon these days, I wasn't going to pass up the chance to give this batch a taste. Annis' Answer offers the rich flavors of vanilla that Booker always looked for in his namesake bourbon. I know Booker would want fans of the brand to enjoy this special release, so I hope you’ll join me in raising a glass to toast Booker, our many adventures together as husband and wife and the question that began it all.”
--Annis Wickham Noe, Wife of Booker Noe

2016 - 01 Bluegrass Batch

Master Distiller Notes

“The first batch of Bookers for 2016 is made up of barrels that were stored in 7 different rack houses. 61% of the barrels were stored in 9 story houses, 34% were stored in 7 story houses, and remaining 5% were stored in a 5 story rack house. The ages of the barrels in the batch range from 6 years 11 months old to 7 years 11 months old. The deep amber color reflects the complex aroma and flavor of the batch to be bottled. The nose is pleasant with the vanilla and toasted nuts that is inviting and makes you eager to sip this great bourbon. The flavor of this batch is smooth and well balanced with a finish that I enjoyed neat without adding any water.”
Fred Noe

Label Inspiration

Booker’s Bourbon is proud to release Booker's Bluegrass, the inaugural batch in the 2016 limited-edition collection, which pays tribute to two of founding distiller Booker Noe's favorite things - whiskey and music. While he is best known for the creation of his namesake full-bodied whiskey, he is also remembered by friends and family for his love of bluegrass music, both listening and dancing to it. Booker was light on his feet and his larger-than-life personality took over the dance floor in true Booker style. He was even known to join the band from time to time. Booker's Bluegrass celebrates Booker living life to the fullest - whether on the dance floor or in the rack house. It is bottled uncut at its natural proof, yielding a robust whiskey with intense flavor - just as Booker preferred.

2015 - 06 Noe Secret

Master Distiller Notes

“Noe Secret was named in honor of my Dad and his honest approach to creating the recipe for his namesake bourbon. Dad always spoke his mind, and kept no secrets in life or when it came to making his iconic whiskey. This batch has rich flavors of vanilla that Booker’s Bourbon is known for, along with a hint of cherry and a warm mouthfeel that opens to a long, smooth finish. I selected this batch at this year’s New York WhiskyFest with the help of the Booker’s Bourbon Roundtable, an exclusive group of top whiskey experts, enthusiasts and writers, who helped me identify a batch that honors dad’s whiskey preference. The group had a tough job, but selected this batch with an overwhelming vote, calling it 'a mega bourbon with the structure that Booker’s is known for.' ”
Fred Noe

Label Inspiration

Batch 2015-06, named “Noe Secret," pays tribute to founding distiller Booker Noe and his ever-honest approach to making the iconic recipe that fans of his namesake bourbon know and love. The batch’s name is a play on words, because Booker, known for speaking his mind, kept no secrets — in life, or the way he made his bourbon. He was transparent about the way his bourbon was made and used the best ingredients available. Booker’s® Bourbon Batch 2015-06 was selected by Master Distiller Fred Noe and Booker’s Bourbon Roundtable.

2015 - 05 Maw Maw’s Batch

Master Distiller Notes

“Maw Maw’s batch was named for my Great Grandmother who played an important role in my dad’s life. The aroma for this batch is rich with hints of vanilla and toasted nuts, and the taste is well balanced with a warmth which moves to a clean, long finish.”
Fred Noe

Label Inspiration

Booker’s® Bourbon is proud to release the fifth batch in its 2015 limited-edition collection, “Maw Maw’s Batch,” named in honor of one of the most important people in Booker’s life - his grandmother. After living at Maw Maw’s house in Bardstown, KY during high school, Booker eventually moved next door when he returned from college. It was while living next door that Booker created the iconic recipe that his namesake bourbon is known for today.

2015 - 04 Oven Buster Batch

Master Distiller Notes

“This batch is called the “Oven Buster” batch for the incident that happened to my mother when she cooked with my father’s early batches of Booker’s Bourbon. She actually blew the oven door open using the Booker’s to finish her pork roast she baked. This batch has some vanilla notes and a nice oaky full-bodied aroma. The flavor is well balanced with a finish that is pleasant and leaves you wanting another taste.“
Fred Noe

Label Inspiration

“This one-of-a-kind label pays tribute to a Noe family story that’s been the topic of conversation among our family for many years, and I’m thrilled to share it with Booker’s fans like you. I’ve always been fond of cooking with bourbon. Years ago, as I was preparing a pork roast, I mistakenly reached for a bottle of my husband’s namesake bourbon. Due to the bourbon’s high proof, the oven sparked and the door flew open, much to our surprise! “Oven Buster Batch” is a true testament to the uncut and unfiltered1, full-bodied whiskey that my husband preferred, and I hope you’ll enjoy it just as much as he did.” –Annis Wickham Noe Wife to Frederick Booker Noe II

2015 - 03 Center Cut Batch

Master Distiller Notes

“This batch was the “Center Cut” batch, named for the special part of the aging rack house my father, Booker, aged his favorite bourbon, Booker’s. The barrels selected have a nice chestnut color that reminds me of the beautiful thoroughbred horses that race here in Kentucky. The nose on this batch has vanilla and a lot of the oak from the barrels. There’s a very intense flavor that explodes in your mouth and it leaves a sweet, long, pleasant finish. A small splash of water opens this batch up for some great sipping.“
Fred Noe

Label Inspiration

Booker’s® Bourbon is proud to release the third batch in its 2015 collection, Batch 2015-03, which features a custom label celebrating founding distiller Booker Noe’s favorite part of the rackhouse and choice cut of meat – “The Center Cut.”

Booker liked to age his namesake barrels in the center of the rackhouse – the 5th floor – to achieve the robust flavor that Booker’s® Bourbon is known for. This is where the temperature, humidity and sunlight combine to produce perfect aging conditions. As for the meat, Booker liked to cure his own and enjoyed nothing better than a thick slice from the center.

Batch 2015-03, named the “The Center Cut,” is the first batch in the 2015 limited-edition collection that Fred Noe, Beam’s 7th Generation Master Distiller, selected with the help of the Booker’s® Bourbon Roundtable, an exclusive group of top whiskey experts, enthusiasts and writers. For the first time ever, the Roundtable was also joined by local Louisville, Kentucky, chef, Coby Ming, who used her culinary expertise to help select a batch that embodies Booker’s whiskey preferences and ensures an ideal flavor profile for food pairing.

2015 - 02 Dot’s Batch

Master Distiller Notes

“The second batch of Booker’s® Bourbon for 2015 is made up of barrels that were aged from January 2007 to February 2008. I really enjoyed the nose on this batch. It has a nice balance of vanilla with some slight citrus notes. I’ll always remember this batch as the one I selected during the winter snowstorms of 2015.“
Fred Noe

Label Inspiration

Booker’s® Bourbon is proud to release the second batch of its 2015 limited-edition release collection, celebrating Dot, the faithful sidekick of founding distiller Booker Noe. Booker’s® Bourbon Batch 2015-02 features a custom label depicting Booker Noe’s cherished Jack Russell Terrier, a scrappy runt of the litter brought home as a surprise for Booker’s wife and nicknamed for the single brown spot on her back. Known for always being at Booker’s side, Dot is commemorated with Batch 2015-02, named "Dot’s Batch." Uncut and created in very limited quantity – like all Booker’s®Bourbon batches before it – “Dot’s Batch” features the robust flavor and natural proof that Booker’s Bourbon is known for.

2015 - 01 BIG MAN, SMALL BATCH

Master Distiller Notes

“Our first batch in 2015 has a great vanilla nose that really comes through. This batch consists of barrels that were filled between January and October of 2007. It’s a thoughtful mingling of several small groups of barrels that brought out different flavors from different rackhouses, which I did to make the end result more complex. Each small group of barrels contributed its own robust qualities that, when all mingled together, created a terrific first batch of Booker's® to start off 2015. “
Fred Noe

Label Inspiration

Booker’s® Bourbon Batch 2015-01 features a custom label inspired by the iconic visual of Booker sipping bourbon in his rocking chair (with his dog, Dot, at his side). To honor Booker Noe’s role in the creation of small batch bourbons and his larger-than-life personality, Booker's® Bourbon is releasing Batch 2015-01, "Big Man, Small Batch."